ons
of a water-tank giving way; and Mr. Starr ascertained beyond a doubt
that these supports had first of all been partially sawn through. Harry,
who had been overseeing the works near the place at the time, was buried
in the falling rubbish, and narrowly escaped death.

A few days afterwards, on the steam tramway, a train of trucks, which
Harry was passing along, met with an obstacle on the rails, and was
overturned. It was then discovered that a beam had been laid across the
line. In short, events of this description became so numerous that
the miners were seized with a kind of panic, and it required all the
influence of their chiefs to keep them on the works.

"You would think that there was a whole band of these ruffians," Simon
kept saying, "and we can't lay hands on a single one of them."

Search was made in all directions. The county police were on the alert
night and day, yet discovered nothing. The evil intentions seeming
specially designed to injure Harry. Starr forbade him to venture alone
beyond the ordinary limits of the works.

They were equally careful of Nell, although, at Harry's entreaty, these
malicious attempts to do harm were concealed from her, because they
might remind her painfully of former times. Simon and Madge watched over
her by day and by night with a sort of stern solicitude. The poor
child yielded to their wishes, without a remark or a complaint. Did she
perceive that they acted with a view to her interest? Probably she did.
And on her part, she seemed to watch over others, and was never easy
unless all whom she loved were together in the cottage.

When Harry came home in the evening, she could not restrain expressions
of child-like joy, very unlike her usual manner, which was rather
reserved than demonstrative. As soon as day broke, she was astir before
anyone else, and her constant uneasiness lasted all day until the hour
of return home from work.

Harry became very anxious that their marriage should take place. He
thought that, when the irrevocable step was taken, malevolence would be
disarmed, and that Nell would never feel safe until she was his wife.
James Starr, Simon, and Madge, were all of the same opinion, and
everyone counted the intervening days, for everyone suffered from the
most uncomfortable forebodings.

It was perfectly evident that nothing relating to Nell was indifferent
to this hidden foe, whom it was impossible to meet or to avoid.
Therefore it seemed quite p